Green Industry Competition Grooms Tomorrow's Workforce
STIHL Inc. Supports FFA Career Development Competition
Release Date: March 2007
Press Contacts:
Anita Gambill (757) 486-9151 or
Terry Kelley (757) 340-7425
All other inquiries:
STIHL Incorporated
(757) 486-9100
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. With green industry jobs projected to increase by 22 percent in the next 10 years, preparing young people for budding “green” careers is more important than ever. Recognizing this, STIHL Inc. has partnered with the National FFA (FFA), a youth leadership and agricultural education organization with more than 495,000 members, to groom tomorrows leaders through the annual Nursery and Landscape Career Development Event (CDE).
For the past five years, STIHL Inc. has actively supported the National FFA and specifically the Nursery and Landscape CDE. The event, which tests teams of students from around the country in a variety of green industry skills such as plant identification and salesmanship, was held this year at the National FFA convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The team from Bear Creek, N.C. took top honors, placing first in a competition of 39 teams. The winnersJason Douglas, Chris Hart, Bray Harvey and Clay Phillips, and coach Julian Smithwill join Minnesota, Missouri and Georgia, 2nd through 4th place teams respectively, at PLANETs (Professional Landcare Network) Student Career Days, the green industrys college level competition. The four FFA teams will get a chance to experience the next level of competition, learn more about the career path open to young people in the green industry, and meet representatives from the countrys top lawn care and landscape companies. The trip is courtesy of the FFA, Ariens Corporation and STIHL.
“The expanding landscaping, turf management and outdoor power equipment business offers tremendous career opportunities for bright young workers and these competitions really put them to the test,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. “STIHL is proud to support the industry by helping students prepare for careers in these fields.”
The Nursery and Landscape CDE is held at FFAs annual convention, which hosts more than 50,000 students with four days of activities, competitions and displays in conjunction with an industry-wide career fair. High school students compete in knowledge-based areas such as plant identification and resource planning, as well as in business areas including salesmanship, business letter writing and team project solving.
To further impact students and educators, STIHL proactively developed a technical training curriculum for two- and four-cycle engine operation based on programs presently in place for STIHL dealers and service technicians. The materials, along with additional FFA teaching materials, were distributed free of charge to 12,000 agriculture teachers across the nation.
“Events such as the Nursery and Landscape CDE showcase the best and brightest of tomorrows workforce,” Phelps said. “Educating our future leaders is a priority for STIHLthat is why we are proud to align ourselves with organizations such as the FFA.”
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world’s largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.
For information on job opportunities with STIHL Inc., please go to www.stihlcareers.com. STIHL is an EEO and drug-free work environment.
About FFA
FFA is a national youth organization of 495,046 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture with 7,242 local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Visit www.ffa.org for more information.
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